Matte Teabar’s third location blends historic French villa charm with bold modern design, featuring a garden café and a serene ceremonial tea room.

Matte Teabar’s third location finds its home in a century-old French villa, quietly tucked away in an alley within a residential neighborhood of Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. It’s a setting that exudes history, intimacy, and a certain understated charm, qualities that the talented team at The Lab embraced to create a space that feels both deeply rooted and refreshingly modern.

To blend into the neighborhood’s tranquil rhythm, the entrance is marked not by bold signage, but by a subtle swinging cat, joining the two dozen real cats who call the area home. This humble gesture sets the tone: a teahouse that values hospitality and serenity over spectacle.

Garden as Living Room

The villa’s lush outdoor garden becomes a natural extension of the teahouse. Low stools and flexible seating arrangements echo the traditions of Vietnamese coffee culture, where the social experience thrives in open, adaptable spaces. Here, guests can linger under the trees, enjoying tea in a setting that feels casual yet carefully curated.

Old Meets New

Inside, the design embraces the house’s century-old brick walls and original roof structure, preserving their weathered textures as a backdrop. Against this, monumental blocks form the new bar and interior walls, bold, contemporary insertions that contrast yet complement the existing architecture. The result is a layered environment where past and present play off one another, allowing both history and brand to stand out.

A Space for Ceremony

In the villa’s annex, a dedicated tea room offers a more intimate encounter. Designed for workshops and ceremonial tea-making, the room is anchored by Matte’s signature chasen light, a glowing reminder of the brand’s dedication to craft and ritual. This calming space allows visitors to step deeper into the artistry of tea, beyond the casual café experience.

Design Collaboration

The project reflects a collaboration between interior architects Tess Ngo, Tu Trinh, and Gia Tu; graphic designers Kim Chi and Ven Bui; with creative guidance from Tuan Le. Together, they’ve shaped a teahouse that respects its historic setting while clearly asserting Matte’s contemporary identity.

Ultimately, Matte Teabar’s new home is more than a place to drink tea. It’s an environment that balances heritage and innovation, intimacy and community, an architectural embodiment of the brand’s philosophy. By embracing contrast and context, the space creates a memorable experience that invites visitors to slow down, connect, and savor the beauty of both tea and place.

Interior Architecture